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1st October 2006 - Division 2 - Rides
Community Centre, Finchampstead.
When Wanderers drew 3-3 with Rides in March, they were only able to select
a bare eleven players. There was a sense of déjà vous as the Blues prepared for the match with only eleven players,
however matters were made worse when Chris Hillsdon failed to turn up, leaving Wanderers with ten men.
With no Harding, and reserve goalkeepers Mark Timms and Peter Killingworth
also unavailable, Lewis Trusty stepped in between the sticks. Matt Cook made his first start at right back, with Andy
Corless returning in the centre of defence, and joined by Steve Martin. Chris Orbell moved up to left midfield, and Richard
Scott started alone in attack.
Just two minutes into the game, and Wanderers day was not getting any better.
Corless hauled down the Rides forward in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. After a slight delay, the kick
was struck high to Trusty's right, but amazingly the stand-in keeper tipped the effort onto the crossbar, and Cook cleared
the danger.
Fifteen minutes later and Rides had the lead. A misunderstanding between
Steve Martin and Trusty, saw the Wanderers' keeper clear low and straight to a Rides player, who subsequently lobbed the ball
back into the net.
In their next attack, Rides were denied by a superb point-blank save from
Trusty. Though minutes later they evaded the back four to leave Trusty exposed and beaten with a low shot to his left.
Towards the end of the half Wanderers showed signs
of getting back into the game. Richard Scott flashed a couple of shots towards goal, and was supported well by Chris
Orbell and Anthony Prior in several attacks.
Into the second half, and Wanderers were hit by two further
Rides goals to put them 4-0 up on the hour mark. A fifth goal followed following a change of goalkeeper, with the injured
Corless swapping with Trusty.
Wanderers rallied slightly, and hit the woodwork twice.
First Prior's corss to Scott was defelcted onto the crossbar, then Chris Orbell's header looped over the 'keeper and was deemed
to have not crossed the line after hitting the underside of the bar.
A consolation goal came with ten minutes remaining, as
Richard Scott finished with a powerful shot into the near post from the edge of the box.
Rides added to their tally too, as a dismal match for
Wanderers came to an end. The defeat was harsh on the ten players who appeared for the Blues, and owed more to a lack
of commitment from some of those not able to take the field.
TEAM: Lewis Trusty, Matt Cook, Andy Corless, Darren Wakley, Chris
Orbell, Steve Martin, Dave Griffiths, Jamie Ryall, Anthony Prior, Richard Scott.
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